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GameSpy's Top MGS Moments: Metal Gear Solid 2 (Day One)

We kick off week two of a month of MGS moments reminiscing on MGS2's Tanker.

Here at GameSpy, it's no secret that we love Metal Gear Solid. After all, we concluded nearly three years ago that it's our favorite PlayStation game of all time. With MGS4 on the horizon in a month, we've decided to help refresh your memory with a look at some of the best moments from a decade's worth of Tactical Espionage Action. For the next four weeks on Thursdays and Fridays, we'll be rolling out all our favorite MGS moments, including our favorite bosses. This week, we'll be looking back on the sequel that's just as great as it is controversial, Metal Gear Solid 2.

Oh, and here's a look at day one and day two of MGS if you missed them!

Tanker Introduction

Scenario: Snake walks down the George Washington Bridge on a rainy night. The scene is moody and atmospheric. Suddenly he throws off his poncho, activates optic camouflage, and dives from the bridge. He crashes onto the USS Discovery amid dramatic lightning. After scoping out some Russian terrorists, he receives a briefing from Otacon.

Sterling: I remember watching this video in the late summer of 2000. At that point I knew that I had to get a PS2 and play this game. Unfortunately, as a broke college student who dabbled much more in PC gaming at that point, I knew that a system would be more expensive than the video card I had my eye on. Nevertheless, MGS2 was arguably my strongest motivation to get a PS2 outside of GTA3, and this sliver of the experience really exemplifies why. Because it sure wasn't naked Raiden.

AJ: Oh weird, for me it was naked Raiden.

Eduardo:When I first booted up MGS2 I was floored by the slick opening. Not only did everything look so much better than the PSOne title, it was also incredibly cool to see Snake moseying down the road, smoking a cigarette while getting drenched by the rain, then burst into a full-on sprint. I knew he was there for business, but I had no idea that he would leap off the George Washington bridge to get to his insertion point. It was a stellar and cinematic opening that I fondly remember, even though the rest of the game is one of the most bizarre experiences I've had in gaming.

AJ: The build-up to MGS2's release was agonizing, as every little peek Konami afforded the public felt so, well, pregnant with promise. I think we all had a different mindset then, with only one (excellent) MGS game under our belts. The series hadn't yet acquired its rep for incredibly indulgent cinematics or preachy moralizing (though in retrospect MGS had plenty of both). So I just saw this fantastic cinematic imagery and was like, "Wow, they can do this on the PS2? This is a game?" Today I'd be more skeptical and less tolerant of the clunky, ponderous dialogue and drawn-out dramatic camera shots. But in 2000, 2001? This was the cutting edge and my eyes were as wide as anyone else's. And contrary to popular suspicion, yes, it was indeed in real time.